The MERGE Dataset: A Harmonized Global Resource for Climate Disaster Impacts and Human Vulnerability

The MERGE Initiative is a global data infrastructure designed to address one of the most persistent challenges in climate disaster research and response: the fragmentation of data across incompatible systems, sectors, and formats. Despite a growing abundance of disaster-related data, the lack of harmonization and integration standards continues to hamper effective decision-making, risk modelling, and anticipatory action. MERGE brings together data holders and subject matter experts from leading scientific institutions, working collaboratively to curate, align, and integrate trustworthy data across disciplines at global scales. MERGE has, in its proof-of-concept phase, created a publicly available pilot dataset that integrates 250 + variables from 10 distinct databases. This MERGE pilot dataset is being used to develop cutting-edge data and methods to support researchers, governmental decision-makers, international financial institutions, local responders, and policymakers through access to timely and relevant data on climate-related disasters and human vulnerability. The MERGE platform is a public good and the proof-of-concept dataset is publicly available.